The Syllabus

Communicating Content, Rules, and Enthusiasm

Syllabi aren't just assignment calendars: they serve several important purposes. The syllabus communicates the instructor’s course design (e.g., goals, organization, policies, expectations, requirements) to students. A well-constructed syllabus can do more. It can share enthusiasm for the topic, set the tone for the semester, and help students manage their learning by making explicit what you expect them to learn. The resources on this page give advice and tools for efficient and effective syllabus construction.

Creating Your Syllabus

Writing the Syllabus comes fairly late in the course planning process, and it incorporates the thinking that you have done about course design. These links provide helpful advice about syllabus construction, as well as interactive templates that can help you construct an excellent syllabus.